Monday Bolts – 7.13.09

John Denton, writing for ESPN, says the best player in Orlando was Russell Westbrook: “When Russell Westbrook was in Orlando last summer, he was mostly an afterthought as scouts, coaches, media and even players clamored to see 2008’s top pick, Derrick Rose, square off against No. 2 pick Michael Beasley. This summer, however, Westbrook had the stage all to himself with Rose not playing summer ball and Miami not fielding a team. And Westbrook proved himself to be far and away the best player in Orlando.”

Henry Abbott with some Summer League thoughts: “Is two Summer League sessions one too many? The Thunder, the only team playing in both Summer Leagues, just came off five games in five days in Orlando, with most of their primary names logging big minutes. The team looked exhausted Sunday in its 86-57 loss to Memphis. The Thunder recorded 22 turnovers, but only 20 field goals.”

Gary Washburn writing about the Thunder’s future, including a tidbit about James Harden’s likely role: “The graybeard in the OKC starting lineup is Krstic, who doesn’t turn 26 until July 25. The Thunder could start Russell Westbrook at point and Sefolosha at shooting guard with Durant and Green. Presti’s primary concern in the summer of 2010 is whether Durant will want to sign a five-year contract extension or three-year deal. If he chooses the latter option, Durant could be a 25-year-old unrestricted free agent in 2013 and perhaps a couple of All-Star appearances on his resume. It all depends on how much he likes Oklahoma City and how quickly the Thunder progresses into a contender. Presti said Harden is likely to come off the bench to begin his rookie season, and he astutely signed former No. 4 pick Shaun Livingston, who appears close to recovery from a devastating left knee injury that nearly cost him his career.”

A Celtics assistant coach had some nice words about Westbrook: “[Gabe Pruitt] shot well, he did a good job getting into the paint and taking care of the ball,” said Celtics assistant coach Mike Longabardi. “Russell Westbrook [of the Thunder] was definitely the best point guard here, but you can make an argument Gabe was the next guy. He’s just got to continue to work, continue to stay ready, and we’ll see what happens.”

Sam Presti with Sam Amico: “It’s easy to think NBA summer league rosters are thrown together at the last minute. You take a couple of second-year players, a few draft picks, and a bunch of young guys who may or may not be playing in the NBA at some point. But believe it or not, a little more goes into it than that. “With the summer league, every team obviously puts a lot of focus on its own players,” Oklahoma City general manager Sam Presti told PBN. “But you also need to fill out the roster and put a team on the floor that can function.”

Darnell Mayberry on Russell Westbrook: “When it’s all said and done, the 20-year-old point guard could return as the most improved Thunder player when the roster reconvenes in Oklahoma City in the fall. The writing is on the wall. Westbrook is largely more patient. He’s no longer forcing the issue as often as he did as a bright-eyed rookie last season. He’s now looking for options out of ball screens that don’t just end in a shot attempt by No. 0, or worse, a turnover.”

The Jazz are looking to match Portland’s offer to Millsap: “This is just my interpretation of what was said Saturday, but Jazz general manager Kevin O’Connor made three comments that suggested the team was inclined to match the four-year, $32 million offer sheet Paul Millsap signed with Portland. O’Connor has vowed to match any offer to Millsap that isn’t in the realm of the “really outrageous.” His comments Saturday seemed to suggest that an $8 million a year offer by the Trail Blazers doesn’t fit that definition.”

As I threw in earlier his health / weight / conditioning would be the determining factor. In college he did much of what Blair did. I'd at least be willing to work him out to guess whether there is any real chance of a change to the better. Probably not but you want to look for the surprises.

On second look I probably could have passed on mentioning Williams. He can defend the center but he really can't score as a center. As I said the defense might matter more, especially for a spot minutes guy but it is unlikely they go for him. If you could get him at the minimum he might be a good practice player making players work to score and making them defend.

No, Williams can't really play the 5. That was his problem. In college, he could muscle his way to rebounds. However, despite his wide wingspan he had a very short vertical reach (very broad shoulders). His standing reach was shorter than any other PF ever drafted in the top 15, and his vertical wasn't great either! In truth, he could scarcely play the 4 in the pros, either, due to his lack of footspeed. A productive college player, but without the ability to translate that to the pros.

Can Williams play the 5? He's only 6'9", so I wouldn't think so. Seems to be a bit redundant with Collison and White behind Green. Plus, he went to Duke, so he can go...well, you know.

In all seriousness, I always liked him as a prospect -- I'm suprised he's struggled as much as he has. After all the hoopla over the recent draft, it just goes to show how little we really know right now. Who'd have guessed Paul Millsap (drafted 47th in '06) would be getting $30M+ and Shelden Williams (drafted 5th the same year) would be praying for a phone call?

I assume you could get him for about $2 mil a year or maybe less. Probably a 2-3 year deal with somebody having an option. Last year he was better on some things (blocks, steals, rebounding) and worse on shooting but the first items are probably more important. How many bigs have a personalty type and a pedigree that Presti would like and is cheap and presumably willing to come to OKC?

Just a thought. Maybe not considered a need. Depends on the availability of a roster slot. Presti anticipated he could do something with Atkins. Not yet.

I didn't know Shelden Williams was born in OKC. Not saying it is a great idea but signing him to a modest contract might not be a bad idea, depending on how he looks right now. 26 is not bad age for such a bench addition. He be mainly a backup center.

@VinceHoops World added to their story, reporting that Orlando planned to keep Gortat- not trade him. I can't help but think that those guys are flat out nuts. For the next three years, they have 7 guys under contract for north of 75 mill. All that money spent, and I don't see them finishing better than 3rd in the east.

Pardon me, December 15th, games-wise, is about 1/3 of the season. I do stand corrected.

That said, there is no evidence to back up the fact that the Magic intend to trade Gortat, let alone to us. They've said they're willing to pay the tax, they've said (and they're right) that they have a limited window to win a title and they're going for it with the VC trade and re-signing Gortat. They've said that like Gortat and they said prior to all this that they intended to match any "reasonable" offer sheet.

Nor is there any point to trading him for an expiring contract. They're still paying Watson (or Atkins or whoever) for 2009-10, still paying the tax this year. The only cap space they're getting from the expiring deal is the SAME CAP SPACE they would have had had they simply let Gortat walk. So what if they're getting a draft pick in the deal? They're not getting a lottery pick, and if they want a low 1st-round pick next year they can get one for a lot less than $7M in luxury tax payments, which is what a Gortat S&T for (argument's sake) Watson and a future protected 1st-rounder would give them.

Yeah, and one thing to note about Gortat. The Luxury tax is calculated at the END of the season. So, the Magic just pay the salaries until December 15 and then if they want to they can trade Gortat up until the trade deadline late in February and depending on what they take back, or if they trade to a team under the cap, they are off the hook for the Luxury tax.

If Gortat were traded for draft picks between Dec. 15 and the February trade deadline to a team under the cap (the Thunder), they would avoid the tax. If they traded for an expiring deal, say Watson, they would still be in the tax because Watsons deal would be on the books until July next year, and would be calculated into the tax.

Either way, I think it was very smart of Orlando to lock him up. If they get deep into the playoffs again, and with Turk gone, they move Rashard to his natural position of small forward, play Vince at the 2 and go with the twin towers of Gortat and Howard to combat Shaq/big Z and Kevin Garnett/Rasheed and Gasol/Odom/Bynum.

If it doesn't work out, trade him in the off season for something that will help. But either way, they won't have any trouble finding somebody who wants him, and they still get something for him.

@VinceDecember 15th isn't "halfway through a season"- It is 1 1/2 months into a six month season. Knowing that they don't intend to part with either Howard or Lewis and their very large contracts any-time soon, retaining a back-up center to play 12 min/night that is guaranteed to mire you into tax territory for the length of his contract makes Zero sense. TRADING that guy for an EXPIRING contract you could actually use (Watson) and a draft pick, or a contract that can be bought out too keep you out of, or barely into tax territory (Atkins) and a draft pick- when the alternative was to let him Gortat walk and see nothing in return- THAT makes sense.

The Magic GM has said for the past several years that he would never get into the luxury tax and they haven’t once done it.

@Nix1. Cap space is not an issue, as you mentioned earlier. They have Gortat's Bird rights.

2. From the Orlando Sentinel:

Team President Bob Vander Weide said the club could be taxed between $5 million to $7 million and perhaps top out at $10 million. But re-signing Turkoglu alone would eat up most of that, and still leaving four players to sign.

"We will be in the tax," [GM Otis] Smith said Monday.

******

Since they didn't re-sign Turkoglu, and are ready to pay the tax, then signing and keeping Gortat @ $5M+ is a reasonable deal. They have a new arena online and extra revenue from last year (and, they hope, this year) and have said they will be paying the tax this year.

3. As far as trading assets, expiring contracts don't save money off the luxury tax (you're still paying the player), only off the salary cap.

4. Per league rules, he can't be traded until December 15. So they're re-signing him only to trade him halfway through a season where they're going to compete for a title to save a couple hundred grand this year? Please.

I don't know if he can maintain that over starter's minutes, or over the course of a season. But if a GM like Daryl Morey believes in Gortat, then that makes me much more excited about him. Interior depth is our single biggest need right now, and Marcin would fill that role nicely, imo.

@Nixeh, i was down for the MLE exception before. we have the money, and we don't appear to be getting anything better for it. i don't like paying a backup that kind of money, but i think he's a starter on our team. i think he's a very legitimate starting center that defends and rebounds very well, and puts krstic in his proper place off the bench. i don't mind it

this does give me hope. we'll have to wait a while, but it really wouldn't make sense for the magic to pay dwight's backup that much money. gotta be a trade (slowly) brewing, and here's hoping its with us.

@KingGondoI love it! Gotta think they already have a trade partner in mind, and I really, really hope it is us. They also have a track record of sorts with Presti, working the sign and trade that landed them Lewis. I would think they could have interest in Watson. Could like Atkin's magic collapsing contract that could save them tax$. Could be interested in the lesser of our two first round picks for next year. Gotta like our chances.

@NixI seem to remember them saying they might pay the tax after they lost in the Finals, but that was in reference to Turkoglu. But paying a backup center that kind of money seems a bit ridiculous, especially when D12 is your starting guy. My bet is definitely on a trade.

You assume that Portland not wanting Millsap as a player makes the deal poor on their part. Millsap is still a fine player, and would be very useful until he can be traded. If Portland gets "stuck" with Millsap, all it means is that they again have a valuable asset that many other teams want. What's more, teams that could really use Millsap would be able to trade for him, opening up their options. You know, Millsap (at his signing) for Hinrich works straight up.

Portland isn't going to be handcuffed by having a good player that half the teams in the league would trade for.

Good business is getting the best of every situation. If Utah matches, they are forced to trade Boozer (and in all likelihood in a trade that nets Portland a player they want). If Utah lets Millsap walk, Portland gains a supersub until they can trade him for the perfect complement to their team. Regardless of how it works out, Portland wins. That's good business.

Really, Keith, the only thing you and I disagree on is you saying that the Trailblazers don't want Millsap AT ALL. Because, really, a smart businessman doesn't offer that kind of money just to a player they don't really want at all, to roll the dice when the ODDS ARE that they'll actually end up with that player.

Other than that, I see your point and kind of hope it comes true because I love divisional teams who make really bad decisions and then financially handcuff themselves for the next 4 years. :)

its only smart if they want millsap for that money. then they either get millsap or hinrich and are happy either way. otherwise, you don't gamble by offering $32 million to a player that you don't really want, even if you're paul allen. but they have to want millsap, otherwise it too risky. as jg said, the jazz have already been trying hard to move boozer and haven't succeeded.

Keith :@J.G.Isn’t that exactly my point? Portland specifically structured the contract so that Utah would be forced to trade Boozer, which is exactly what Portland wants (with the three team trade rumor). Portland isn’t so silly that they really want to pay a backup (behind a guy who plays nearly 40 minutes per game) 11 million dollars. But, they DO want Hinrich, and offering Millsap an overloaded contract is the best way to secure Hinrich. It’s not a conspiracy, it’s smart business.

@Keith

Let me get this straight, "Offering Millsap an overloaded contract is the best way to secure Hinrich."

To me, smart business is not putting all your eggs into the basket of "well, this team will have to find a deal now and then we don't have to pay this huge contract we just offered to a guy we really don't want at all...I mean, surely the Jazz (and another team, most likely) will make a trade happen with Boozer even though they've been trying to move this guy ever since he opted-in and have had zero takers...but it'll happen, right?"

Way too many if's and relying on other parties for that to be smart business if that's what they're actually trying to do. I'd say Occam's razor would apply to this little scenario as well, being that the simplest and most obvious explanation is that they actually want Millsap as a sixth man and/or cripple the Jazz.

And this trade involving Hinrich that's been discussed the past week, was not killed by the Jazz. So it doesn't matter if they REALLY, REALLY want to move Boozer now after this offer sheet (they have ever since he opted-in). What matters is if another team is willing to take Boozer or not and what that other team is willing to give up.

So, by your definition of good business, the Portland Trailblazers have now just offered to pay $32 million dollars for a player they don't really want, have hinged their future as an organization on two other teams because they believe those two other teams will absolutely come through with a trade and bail them out of this situation AND will somehow get the the player they really want because those two other teams will be 100% compliant and not ask for a player that one of the teams does not want to give up and all of the salaries will matchup to an acceptable degree.

It was readable this time, but the content was sketchy. Did he miss the fact that Westbrook was still playing like a shooting guard? It's great that he tore up a bunch of guys who will never sniff an NBA training camp, but he did that by ballhogging...and his turnover numbers weren't very inspiring.

@J.G.Isn't that exactly my point? Portland specifically structured the contract so that Utah would be forced to trade Boozer, which is exactly what Portland wants (with the three team trade rumor). Portland isn't so silly that they really want to pay a backup (behind a guy who plays nearly 40 minutes per game) 11 million dollars. But, they DO want Hinrich, and offering Millsap an overloaded contract is the best way to secure Hinrich. It's not a conspiracy, it's smart business.

@J.G.You are basically leaving out part of his argument. Portland has ALWAYS liked Hinrich, and they want him to be the backcourt mate to Roy. They know Utah is shopping Boozer, and they know they will shop him harder since they want Milsap if they do a deal like this.

They have now put Utah in a bind to do a big deal, that Portland can now get for a 3 team trade and get Hinrich out of it. This trade was rumored a while ago, and by raising the bar AND frontloading it, it makes the trade necessary if they want to keep milsap.

I think it's a case of both sides being right. I think they want Milsap, and they really want Hinrich, whether Utah matches or not, its likely they can land one of them.

"The Jazz are expected to continue their push to trade Carlos Boozer in response to the unprecedented offer, with the intent of creating sufficient distance from the luxury-tax line to enable Utah to match the Millsap offer.

The Blazers front-loaded the contract to make it difficult for Utah to match. They gave Millsap a $5.6 million signing bonus and agreed to pay him $4.7 million of his first-year, $6.3 million salary the day the contract becomes effective.

So a week from now, Millsap would receive $10.3 million. Add to that the $1.6 million that will be spread throughout next season and Millsap, who was paid just $797,581 last season, will be paid $11.9 million this year. The remaining $20.1 million will be spread over the final three years of the deal.

Those are the terms the Jazz will have to agree to if they match Portland's offer within the next seven days. With Utah already $4 million over the luxury tax, that will be tough to do.

Sources say that Boozer has been directly informed by the Jazz that he is no longer in the team's long-term plans, prompting Boozer to urge Utah to trade him. Chicago, New York, Miami and Detroit are believed to be the teams most interested in acquiring Boozer, who has only one year left on his contract worth $12.7 million after passing up the opportunity to become a free agent this summer."

Like I said, without moving Boozer there's no way they can match this offer sheet.